Americana series

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The CIA invert error, Scott 1610c

The Americana series was a series of United States definitive postage stamps issued between 1975 and 1981. Denominations ranged from one cent to five dollars. It superseded the Prominent Americans series, and was in turn superseded by the Great Americans series and the Transportation coils.

The issue was notable for its distinctive style, with text (generally relating to American history or freedoms) along two sides of the stamp. While the stamps were not part of the Bicentennial Series of stamps issued from 1971-1983, the historical theme fit in well. The twenty sheet stamps, placed in denomination order in blocks of four, form five blocks of four all with text entirely on the outside. Three of the blocks have themes: The first, "Roots of Democracy", the second and third lack themes, the fourth, "Pioneer America", and the fifth, "America's Light".

Among philatelists, the series is most famous for the CIA invert. An invert error of the $1 lamp stamp, it was so named because the original sheet was bought by a CIA employee who had gone to the post office to buy some stamps.

1 cent, 1977

The 16 cent and the 29 cent were issued for a proposed, but never implemented "business rate" for first class mail, which was to be higher than the personal rate (only letters with handwritten addresses would be eligible for the lower rate). The proposed rate was rejected by the Postal Rate Commission which chose instead a 15 cent rate (for two ounces, 28 cents) for all mail. Since the 16 and 29 cent stamps satisfied no rate, and were not a convenient round number, they saw little use.

The design for the 1 cent stamp was originally designated for a never-issued 26 cent stamp.

Many of the stamps were issued in mid-November in New York City. At the time, it was usual to have a stamp issuance during the annual stamp show for the American Stamp Dealers Association, which was then held in mid-November in New York City. The March stamps issued in New York were issued at the ASDA-sponsored INTERPEX show.

[edit] Denominations, subject, inscription, place and date of issue

Sheet stamps:

1 cent, quill pen and inkwell, "The Ability to Write * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
2 cent, speaker's stand, "Freedom To Speak Out * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
3 cent, ballot box, "To Cast A Free Ballot * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
4 cent, books and eyeglasses, "A Public That Reads * A Root of Democracy", St. Louis MO, Dec. 8, 1977
9 cent, (gray paper) Capitol dome, "Right of People Peaceably to Assemble", Washington DC, Nov. 24, 1975
10 cent, head of statue of Justice, "People's Right To Petition For Redress", New York NY, Nov. 17, 1977
11 cent, early printing press, "Liberty Depends on Freedom of the Press", Philadelphia PA, Nov. 13, 1975
12 cent, torch of Statue of Liberty, "Freedom of Conscience * An American Right", Dallas TX, April 8, 1981
13 cent, Liberty Bell, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land", Cleveland OH, Oct. 31, 1975
13 cent, eagle and shield, "One Nation Indivisible * E Pluribus Unum", Juneau AK, Dec. 1, 1975
15 cent, American Flag, "The Land of the Free * The Home of the Brave", Baltimore MD, June 30, 1978
16 cent, head of Statue of Liberty, "I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door", New York NY, Mar. 31, 1978
24 cent, Old North Church, "Midnight Ride * One if by Land, Two if by Sea", Boston MA, Nov. 14, 1975

10 cents, 1977

28 cent, Fort Nisqually, Washington, "Lonely Outpost * New Nation Building Westward", Tacoma WA, Aug. 11, 1978
29 cent, Sandy Hook lighthouse, "Lonely Beacon Protecting Those Upon the Sea", Atlantic City NJ, Apr. 14, 1978
30 cent, one room schoolhouse, "American Schools * Laying Future Foundations", Devils Lake ND, Aug. 27, 1979
50 cent, Betty lamp, "America's Light Sustained by Love of Liberty", San Juan PR, Sep. 11, 1979
$1, rush lamp, "America's Light Fueled by Truth and Reason", San Francisco CA and nationwide, July 2, 1999
$2, kerosene lamp, "America's Light Will Shine Over All the Land", New York NY, Nov. 16, 1978
$5, lantern, "America's Light Leads Her Generations Onward", Boston MA, Aug. 23, 1979

Coil stamps:

1 cent, quill pen and inkwell, "The Ability to Write * A Root of Democracy", New York, NY, Mar. 6, 1980
3.1 cent, guitar, "Listen With Love to the Music of the Land", Shreveport LA, Oct. 25, 1979
3.5 cent, violins, "The Music of America is Freedom's Symphony", Williamsburg PA, June 23, 1980
7.7 cent, saxhorns, "Marching in Step to the Music of the Union", New York NY, Nov. 20, 1976
7.9 cent, drum, "Beat the Drum for Liberty and the Spirit of 76", Miami FL, Apr. 23, 1976
8.4 cent, piano, "Peace Unites a Nation Like Harmony in Music", Interlochen MI, July 13, 1978
9 cent, (gray paper) Capitol dome, "Right of People Peaceably to Assemble", Milwaukee WI, Mar. 5, 1978
10 cent, head of statue of Justice, "People's Right To Petition For Redress", Tampa FL, Nov. 4, 1977
12 cent, torch of Statue of Liberty, "Freedom of Conscience * An American Right", Dallas TX, April 8, 1981
13 cent, Liberty Bell, "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land", Allentown PA, Nov. 25, 1975
15 cent, American Flag, "The Land of the Free * The Home of the Brave", Baltimore MD, June 30, 1978
16 cent, head of Statue of Liberty, "I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door", New York NY, Mar. 31, 1978